Steam heating system



y 1943- J. A. DONNELLY 2,325,487

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 21, 1941 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTORV. Jamm- D mm MMWW

A ro/wry July 27, 1943. J. A. DONNELLY 2,325,487

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 dAMEs A DONNELLY all-M Patented July 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,325,487 STEAM HEATING SYSTEM James A. Donnelly, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application February 21, 1941, Serial No. 389,015 14 Claims. (01. 237-45) My invention relates to steam heating systems and more particularly to that class of steam heating systems in which a circulation of steam thru the system is maintained by the connection of the return with a vacuum pump, such a system being disclosed in my patents, No. 974,245 and/ or NO. 974,246, both issued November 1, 1910, and/or No. 1,681,725, issued August 21, 1928.

A chief object of my invention is to provide a steam heating system, to meet any heating requirements, that is efficiently and economically operable, and that is susceptible of low manufacturing and installation cost because of the small number and the manufacturing simplicity of its operative and controlling features.

A chief object of the invention is to provide such a steam heating system that gives a uniform distribution of steam to the parts of the system where the condensation of the steam takes place, irrespective of their distance from the source of supp1y,andis quickly responsive to the varying requirements 'for heat in condensing parts of the system. 7.

Another object of the invention is to provide a'steam heating system in which the steam may be maintained at predetermined variable pres-v sures in the supply pipe and the branch pipes while the pressure of the system may be reduced or varied, thereby causing the'introduction of less or different'amounts of steam, as required by the demand for heat caused by the outside prevailing weather condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam heating system in which, when the system is operated under an on-and-ofi timing schedule with the periods of on-and-off according to the outside weather requirements, a suffi cient supply'of steam is maintained so that, while all the radiators cool completely yet the steam main and branches remain hot, the foregoing result being accomplished either manually or automatically, by introducing air into the" return system in varying quantities while constant temperature and pressure of the steam are maintained beyond the group or branch main orifices by means of a thermostatic or pressure-operated reducing valve. i

Another object is to provide a method of draw ing more or less steam into a steam heatingsystem: by increasing or decreasing the vacuum in the return of the system.

Another object of the invention isto'increase the longevity of the system by maintaining the temperature of the expansion devices substantially constant during the entire period of the use of the system, therefore maintaining these devices in the expanded condition.

A further object is to provide a quicker response in the steam condensing parts of the system to either manual or automatic control of the steam supply of the system by maintaining the suppl main and branchesand/or risersat the supply steam temperature of the system.

A further object is to provide in a vacuumpump steam heating system means for controlling, manually or automatically, the vacuum in the return system, either at the outlet of. the entire return system or in a part thereof, by means responsive to the outside weather particularly the cooling eifect of the outside air.

A further object is to provide 'a steam heating system in whichthe flow of steam to the radiators is proportioned by means of fixed orifices and the flow in the return system is balanced b similar fixed orifices.

While reference has been made to outside temperature as controlling the system, atmospheric conditions in general, including wind velocity,

moisture content of the air and even atmospheric pressure may affect the thermostat and have an influence on the control of the system; however, admission of air in approximate correspondence with or in approximate proportion to and directly related to changes of temperature is believed to be sufficiently accurate for the purpose of the claims and description.

My improved steam heating system may be so subdivided as to supply the .needs of the different portions of the distributing mains, pipes, risers, etc'., whereby it is delivered into the radiators only in the exact quantity required, the circulationthus produced insuring the exact predetermined results asto room temperature and, at the same time, permitting said room temperature to be varied to the desired extent at will, while not exceeding the predetermined maximum temperature required. By the employment of exactly proportioned fixed orifices, steam is so thoroughly subdivided and accurately distributed among all of the headers, risers and branch pipes, that each radiator may be definitely supplied with the required steam, whereby uniform temperature is automatically assured thruout the building, and the return system is balanced proportionally with fixed orifices, thus enabling a large steam heating system to be operated perfectly as a vacuum return line system. By setting the vacuum pump at the outlet for a uniform rate of action suitable to the most severe outside weather conditions and admitting air to the return system automatically appear as the description Figure l is a schematic showing of my improved system.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of a' liqu'id'thermostatic valve control.

Figure 3 is a detail view, approximately actual size, of a fixed orifice fitting, the same being? broken away to show the internal construction on a plane determined by the axis of the pipe connected thereto, andthe, ax s of the valve stem.

A steam main it] may be connected with a constant source of steam supply, preferably 'at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of 212 .degrees Fahrenheit, andmay have any desired number of branch mains H, l2; i3, i4, l5, l6, and I1, each of which leads to a group of radiators;-branch l5to radiators l8, l9, ZiLZ'i, 2'2, and 23; branchlfito radiators 2d, 25, 26, 21, 28;.and28; andbranch I! to radiators 39, 31, 32, 3'3, 34,'and 35. group of radiators are connected with the branch return pipe 36, the return pipes from the second group of radiators 'are'connected with the branch return pipe 3?, and the return pipes from the third group .of radiators are connected with the branch return pipe 33. The branch returnpipes 36, 3-1,- 38, 39, 48, 4!, and 42- from the. various groups of radiators'lead intothe return main 43 which outlets into a vacuum pump M, which is preferably set for uniform" action, Athermostati'c valve' ifi, which may be'any suitable valve such as the Sarco type 2430, is

placed'in the main id at the'inlet and the'temperature pipelfiii of the valve is connected with any of the branch pipes beyond the orifices,- as

shown, to'branch pipe H beyond an orifice 46 therein. The steam at the inlet to the main is therefore maintained at a constant predetermine'd temperature, preferably'2l2 degrees Fahrenheit, and at a constant predetermined pressure, preferably atmospheric pressure.

Orifices 45, il, 4a, 49, 59, i, and 52 in the branches ii to El, inclusive, are fixed orifices predet-ermined't'o the proportional steam requirements of each branch.'- Orifices' 53, 54-, 55-, 5t; 51, and 58, in the subbranch'pipes'to the radiators 18,191, 25, 25,22, and-23 are fixed orifices graduated to meet the steam requirements of the respective radiators. Similarly orifices 58, 6%, 6i, 62,63, and M-are'fixed' orificesproportioned to thesteamrequirements of radiators 24, 25, 25, 21, 28;;a'iid 28, respectively, and orifices'65, 85, 61, E8, 59', and'li are fixed orifices also proportioned to the steam requirements of the radiators 38,

'31, 3 2, a4, and ii5jrespectively.

, The Donnelly Patent 1,876,17e'shows in Figures 613011 at 8.? and S'Ean' adjustable orifice adapted tothispurpo sc, when onceadjusted it is tenstantl 7 The radiators are of any known form and'desig'n adapted to the he'ating'requirement's and are positioned in accordance with accepted steam engineering practice.

Thereturn pipes from the first Beyond the radiator outlets there are positioned in the outlet pipes fixed orifices H, i2, 13, i4, i5, 16,11 18, 19,893, 8!, 82, 83, 84, 35, 86, 81, and 88, which may be similar respectively to the orifices 53 to 18, inclusive, seriatirn.

In the return branch pipes 38, 31, 33, 39, 40, ll, and 52 are placed respectively fixed orifices 89, 96, 9|, 92, 93, S4, and $5, and which may be similar respectively to the fixed orifices 46 to 52, seriatim.

Itis now apparent that the steam heating system above described is adapted to feed steam at atmospheric pressure and to deliver constant proportional quantities of steam at the steamcondensingparts of the system to meet the requirements of any radiator by means of the graduated fixed orifices in the branches and/or risers, and similarly frictionally balanced to cause proportional flow in the return branches and/or risers and the return main by the vacuum in the return main produced by'the constant action of the vacuum-pump under most severe outside weather conditions.

' I now describe means whereby the system may be automatically controlled for variations in the requirements for heat by means of simple apparatus: A'thermostat lfil may be mounted on a bracket 5% over the end of an air inlet pipe H32 which has an inlet Hi3-into the return main 43 in the suction of. the vacuum pump as. From the top-of the dome of the thermostat ml is a depending arm I56 which supports a heat expansible container Nil-which may contain a liquid such as ether or chloroform mixed with water, sensitive to temperature changes, and from whichdependsa conical valve" H39 restricting and sealing the valve seat EM atsevere outside'weather and opening proportionally to temperature rises, In other words the thermostat iii! decreasesthe vacuum as the outside weather becomes milder. A manual control N5 of the inletm3- maybe used when and if desired, and similar manual control of the inlets i 58, fig! 9, and G28, So that anydesired quantity of stcam may be drawn into a part of the system or merely sufficient steam to keep the supply main and branch mains and/ or risers hot.

Figure 3 illustrates a fitting which by change of the size oforificemaybe used as the fixed orifice fitting indicated in the drawings, Figure 1; by reference characters 46 to 55.

Referring to Figure 3, the fitting comprisesa hollow body or casing I25 connected to the steam pipes A" andrB by threaded connections I26 in any suitable-manner. This casing has a transverse partition 121' withan offset I28, having therein a circularhole or opening I29 into which is pressed-or inserted a disc it!) having an opening I3! of-suitable size according to the above description. The opening 829 is also shown as provided with a circumferential seat i32 adapted to receive and cooperate with a valve I33 mounted onastem i34 which may be screw threaded and operated bya handle ltd It shouldbe understood that this Figure 3 is merely explanatory of a fitting which may be used for the purpose indicated, in connection with the description relating to reference characters 56 and am]. is no part of the invention;

The purpose of the valve I33 and its seat I32 is to permit any branchpipe or branch main to be closed for cutting off part of the system as in the instance of repairs or alterations and not to change the, capacity ofthe orifice l3! which is in the system as designed, the valve I33 being normally wide open. I

In systems where the outside weather conditions vary greatly at different partsof the steam heating system, thermostats IBI may be mounted, at the end of air inlet pipe IIB. having an inlet II8 to the branch return behind the orifice 9|, at the end of pipe I I I having an inlet I I9 behind the orifice 90, at the end of pipe IIZ having an inlet E20 behind the orifice 89,"at the end of pipe II 3 having an inlet I 2| behind the orifice 95, at the end of pipe II4 having an inlet I22 behind the orifice 94, at the end of a pipe II having an inlet I23 behind the orifice 93, and at the end of a pipe I I6 having an inlet I24 behind'the orifice 92. 1

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention and realizing that, in view of my disclose many substitutions, additions, or omissions of parts, or rearrangement of parts, will readily occur to those skilled in the art, I do not limit myself to the exact disclosure herein.

I claim:

1. A steam heating system wherein there are associated and combined, a source of steam supply, a steam main, a plurality of branching mains respectively opening from .the steam main at different distance from the source of steam supply, a plurality of groups of radiators of which a separate group is connected with each of the branching main and receives steam therefrom, fixed orifice means between the several radiators of each group and the respective branching mains to cause the steam therefrom to be supplied to the radiators in predetermined proportioned quantities, means in communication with" the source of steam supply for initially supplying the system as a whole with steam of a predetermined quantity required for all of the radiators thereof, means having fixed orifice means arranged in the respective branching mains between 7. their connection with the radiators and the steammain and each such orifice proportioned to insurethe passage of the predetermined quantity of steam required by, the radiators of the corresponding group, a return system comprising branches from the radiators, return branch mains, and a return main, and orifice means in said return branch mains and return main proportionedto those in the supply system whereby a balanced flow is produced thruout the system, and a vacuum pump connected with the outlet of the return system.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 and further, means for introducing air in quantities approximately in direct proportion to outside temperatures into the return system thereby reducing the vacuum in the return main and hence the flow in the radiators as the outside temperature rises and increasing the vacuum in said return main and the fiow through the radiators as the outside temperature is reduced.

3. A heating system as per claim 1, for heating an enclosure, said system further comprising temperature controlled means exposed to the outside atmosphere and an air valve controlled thereby and operatively connected thereto for introducing air in predetermined and variable quantities into the return system, said air valve opening in response to increase of said temperature, the quantity of air thus admitted being directly related to and in approximate proportion to the said atmospheric temperature.

4. A heating system as per claim 1, for heating thermostat, exposed to the outside atmosphere and controlled by. the temperature of the surrounding air and a valve controlled by the thermostat to. open and close in approximate conformance'to the increase and decrease respectively of saidtemperature, for introducing air in predetermined and variable quantities into the return system, the maximum quantity of air being introduced-when said temperature is relatively high and the minimum when said tam perature is relatively low thereby the flow. or steam through the radiators is reduced at high temperatures of the outside atmosphere and increased atlow temperatures of said atmosphere.

5. A heating system as per claim 1, 'for heating an enclosure, said system further comprising an air pipe connected with the return system, and open to admit air to said return system an air valve controlling the passage of air through said pipe and a thermostat exposed to the outside air and controlled by-its temperature and connected to and automatically controlling said valve- 6. A heating system as per claim 1 for heating an enclosure, said system further comprising an air pipe connected with the return system and extending outside the building and open for the admission of air, a valve seat through which the air enters said pipe, a valve cooperating with said seat, and a thermostat responsive to outside weather conditions and having an actuating connection to said valve;

'7. A heating system as perplaim 1 for heating an enclosure, said system further comprising an air inlet pipe connected with the return system and terminating outside the building where it has a vertical portion, an opening comprising a valve seat in the'end of aid pipe, a valve in said opening, and a thermostat exposed to the outside air and controlled thereby, said thermostat being adjacent said opening, said thermostat comprising aliqind expansion container which sup-ports and actuates said valve.

8. A heating system as per claim 1 for heating an enclosure, said system further comprising means for introducing air in predetermined and variable quantities into the branch mains of the return system, said quantities being approximately in direct proportion to the temperature of the outside air and being varied in direct relation to the changes of said temperature. 1 9. A heating system as per claim 1 for heatin an enclosure, said system further comprising means for introducing air in predetermined quantities variable in approximate proportion to the cooling effect of the outside atmosphere and in direct relation thereto, said air entering into the branch mains of the return system between the fixed radiator orifice means and the branch main orifice means in the return system.

10. A heating system as per claim 1 for heating an enclosure, said system further comprising a the radiator with said branch main, and controlling the amount of steam admitted thru the supply pipe.

11. A steam heating system for an enclosure, in which system there are associated and combined, a source of steam supply, a steam main, a plurality of branching mains respectively opening from the steam main at different distances from the source of steam supply, a plurality of groups of radiators. of winch a. separate group is connected with each of the branch mains. to receive steam therefrom, means in communication with the source of steam supply for initially supplying the system as'a whole with steam of a predetermined quantity required for all of the radi atorsv thereof; means. having fixed. orifice means arranged: in the respective branch mains between their connection with the radiators and the steam main and each such orifice proportioned to insure the passage of the predetermined quantity of steam requiredby the radiators of the correspondinggroup, a return system comprising branches from the radiators, return branch mains and a return main, and orifice means in said return branch mainsand return main proportioned to. the orifices in the supply system whereby a balanced flow is produced thruout the system, avacuum pump. connected with the outlet of" the return-system, anda. thermostatically operated valve controlled by the surrounding atmosphere and located in the supply pipe and connected with a branch supply main at a point between the branch orifice in said branch supply main and a radiator connected with said branch main, and controlling the amount of steam admitted thru the supply pipe.

12. A steam heating system for an enclosure, in which system there are associated and combined, a source of steam supply, a steam main, a plurality of branching; mains. respectively openfrom the steam main at. different distances rrom the source or steam supply, a plurality of groups oi'radiators of which a separate group is connected with each of the branching mains and receivessteam therefrom, means in communication with the source of, steam supply for initial ly supplying the system. as. a whole with steam or a predetermined quantity required for all of the radiators thereof; means having fixed orifice means arranged in the respective branching mains between their connection with the radiators-and the steam main. and each such orifice proportioned to insurethe-passage of the prede termined. quantity of steam required by the radiators of the corresponding group, a return sys-. tem. comprising branches from the radiators, return branch mains, and awreturn main, and orifice-means: in said return branches andsaid return branch mainsv proportioned tothosein the supply system whereby a balanced flow is varied and maintained in produced thruout'the system, a vacuum pump connected with the outlet of the return system, and; means. for introducing airin predetermined and Variable quantities into the branch mains of the return system. between the branch main orifice and the orifice means in the return branches, and means for regulating said quantitles in approximate proportion to the outside temperature and in direct relation thereto.

13.. In a steam. heating system for heating an enclosure, said system comprisinga steam supply'main connected to asteam supply, a return pipe, steam radiators connected to the steam supply main to receive steam therefrom and to the return pipe, power operated means for creating and maintaining a vacuum in the return pipe, means for admitting air to the return pipe and means exposed to. the outside air and con trolled by the cooling efiect of the outside air and a valve operatively connected thereto for determining the quantities. of airadmitted whereby said quantities are approximately pro portional to the cooling efiect of the outside air and changed in directrelatiori to the changes 01 temperature, thus reducing the vacuum inthe returnpipe asthe outside, temperature is increased and increasing the vacuum in the return pipe as the temperature of the outside air is decreased.

14. In a steam heating system for heatingan enclosure, said system having a steam supply main connectedto a steam supply, a return pipe, steam radiators connected to the steam supply main. to receive steam therefromand to the return pipe, to discharge steam and: water therethrough to. provide a flow of steam to and through theradia-tors, power operated means for creating and maintaining a reduced pressure in the return pipe, means, includinga thermostatic controlexposedto the outside air and thus directly controlled by the cooling effect of the outside air for redueing'thevacuum in the return pipe and hence the flow of steam through the radiators as the outside temperature rises and infalls, whereby the-flow of steam through the radiators and the heatingeffect of the radiators is approximately inverse relation to the outside temperature;

JAMES A. DONNELLY. 

